Azalea plant named ‘MNIOCM’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Azalea  plant found as a seedling in a planned cross between the female  Azalea  ‘Cherie’ (syn. V12-4) and the male  Azalea  ‘Indian Summer’ is disclosed. The new variety has a unique blooming period and is extremely cold hardy. It is a compact, dense, and upright growing plant with attractive, red, hose-in-hose flowers.

Genus/species: Rhododendron sp.

Botanical designation: ‘MNIOCM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of evergreen Azaleaof the genus Rhododendron. This new Azalea, hereinafter referred to as‘MNIOCM’, was discovered in August 1981 in Lawrenceville, Ga. ‘MNIOCM’originated from a planned hybridization between female Azalea ‘Cherie’(syn. V12-4) (unpatented) and male Azalea ‘Indian Summer’ (unpatented)in Lawrenceville, Ga. The value of this new cultivar lies in its uniqueblooming period, growth habit, and cold hardiness.

Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings was performed inDearing, Ga. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics andreproduces true to type in successive generations by vegetativepropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Dearing, Ga.

-   -   1. Unique spring and fall blooming;    -   2. Large, single, hose-in-hose flowers;    -   3. Easily propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring        through summer;    -   4. Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and moisture        conditions;    -   5. Upright, dense, and compact nature;    -   6. Attractive, showy flower;    -   7. Grows well in containers;    -   8. Thrives in shade or sun; and    -   9. Hardy in USDA Zone 5b.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Azalea hybrid variety is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show blooms and foliage of the plant in full bloom.The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic means.

FIG. 1. shows stems and mature foliage.

FIG. 2. shows mature foliage and growth habit of a seven gallon plant.

FIG. 3. shows a close-up view of a mature inflorescence.

FIG. 4. shows the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 5. shows the re-blooming characteristic of the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new variety of Azaleabased on observations made of a 3-year-old plant grown in a seven-galloncontainer according to wholesale commercial production conditions inDearing, Ga. The colors of the various plant parts are detailed withreference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Ericaceae.        -   Species.—Rhododendron sp.        -   Common name.— Azalea.        -   Commercial name.—‘MNIOCM’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Gartrell hybrid Azalea ‘Cherie’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Gable hybrid Azalea ‘Indian Summer’            (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Compact, dense and upright.        -   Height.—1-1½ feet.        -   Width.—3-3½ feet.        -   Growth habit.—Upright, dense and compact.        -   Growth rate.—Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and            moisture conditions. In a period of six years from a rooted            cutting, the plant reaches a height of 2-3 feet and a spread            of 3-3½ feet. The growth rate is normally about 4 to 6            inches per year; the plant reaches a height of 4 to 6 feet            at maturity while maintaining a dense habit.        -   Spring growth.—In 2004, the date of initial spring growth            was March 16, in Dearing, Ga. After the initial spring            flush, there was continuous growth through the fall. The            average length of terminal growth of the initial spring            flush is about 3 inches for a plant in full sun and about 2¾            inches when grown in shade. This growth, if not pruned, will            begin to produce flowers starting in April. As the plant            continues to grow through summer and fall, more flower buds            are produced which mature and bloom until frost. ‘MNIOCM’            bloomed heavily until frost in December, 2003. The remaining            growth produces about 2 to 4 inches of new growth.        -   Life cycle.—Perennial and evergreen.-   Leaves:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple, evergreen.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf length.—⅞ to 1¼ inches.        -   Leaf width.—⅜ inch.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf base.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute to mucronate.        -   Petiole length.—⅛ inch.        -   Petiole color.—RHS 146D (yellow-green).        -   Mature leaf.—Upper leaf surface: Surface texture:            Semi-glossy. Surface color: RHS 139A (green). Surface            pubescence: Strigose. Surface pubescence color: RHS 155C            (white). Midveins and laterals: Impressed on surface. Lower            leaf surface: Surface texture: Matte. Surface color: RHS            146A (yellow-green). Surface pubescence: Strigose. Surface            pubescence color: RHS 164B (greyed-orange). Midveins and            laterals: Prominent on surface.        -   Immature leaf.—Upper leaf surface: Surface texture: Dull.            Surface color: RHS 144A (yellow-green). Surface pubescence:            Strigose. Surface pubescence color: RHS 155C (white). Lower            leaf surface: Surface texture: Matte. Surface color: RHS            146B (yellow-green). Surface pubescence: Strigose. Surface            pubescence color: RHS 155C (white). Immature petioles and            midveins: Petiole color: RHS 144A (yellow-green). Midvein            color: RHS 144A (yellow-green). Petiole pubescence:            Strigose. Petiole pubescence color: RHS 155C (white). New            growth pubescence: Strigose. Length of pubescence: 1/32 to            1/16 inch; numerous on mid-vein and petiole, more so as the            leaf matures.-   Stems:    -   -   Form.—Densely branched.        -   Young stems.—Stem color: RHS 146D (yellow-green). Stem            pubescence: Strigose. Stem pubescence color: at point of            attachment individual hairs emerge RHS 155C (white) and            mature to RHS 164A (greyed-orange); hairs distal from stem            are RHS 164B (greyed-orange). Stem length: 3 to 6 inches.            Stem diameter: 3/32 to ⅛ inch.        -   Second-year stems.—Stem color: RHS N200A (brown). Stem            pubescence: Glabrous and rugose. Stem length: 3 to 6 inches.            Stem diameter: 3/16 inch.        -   Pith.—Solid and uniform.        -   Internode length.—⅛ inch to 1 inch; grown in both full sun            and light shade.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Buds.—Tight; borne in groups of two or three sheathed by a            pair of modified leaf bracts.        -   Bud shape.—Ovate and acuminate.        -   Bud size.—½×¼ inch.        -   Bud scales.—Distal portion pubescent, individual hairs            emerge RHS 155C (white) and mature to RHS N167C            (greyed-orange).        -   Bud color.—RHS 144B (yellow-green) and RHS 145D            (yellow-green).        -   Bud sheath.—Bud sheath length: 7/16 to 17/32 inch,            persistent. Immature sheath color: RHS 139A (green). Mature:            As the buds swell, the bud sheath matures to RHS 145C            (yellow-green), and RHS 45A (red), falls off and reveals the            flower color of RHS 47A (red).        -   Bud pedicel.—Pedicel length: 3/16 inch long. Pedicel color:            RHS 144A (yellow-green). Pedicel pubescence: Villous.            Pedicel pubescence color: RHS 164D (greyed-orange).        -   Calyx.—Calyx shape: Cup-shaped, 5 imbricated sepals,            persistent. Size: ¼ to 7/16 inch long. Color: RHS 145A            (yellow-green). Pubescence: Villous. Color of pubescence:            RHS 155C (white).-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower type.—Perfect, hose-in-hose.        -   Flowering habit.—Borne on the current season's growth.        -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—4-6 days in the sun;            10-12 days in the shade.        -   Length of flowering period.—3 to 4 weeks in April in            Dearing, Ga., flowering resumes in September and continues            until frost which can be as late as November or December.        -   Peduncle length.—⅛ to ¼ inch.        -   Peduncle diameter.—⅛ inch.        -   Flower shape.—Open funnel-shaped.        -   Flower diameter.—2 to 2.5 inches.        -   Flower depth.—1½ inches.        -   Petal number.—10, fused at the base and remain fused up to 1            inch from the base.        -   Petal pubescence.—Glabrous.        -   Petal shape.—Elliptic to obovate with rounded apices and            entire margins.        -   Petal size.—1½ inches long by 1 inch wide.        -   Petal color.—Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 53C (red). Spots            on upper surfaces of 3 of the five petals: RHS 53A (red).        -   Sepals.—Ovate to lanceolate.        -   Sepal number.—5.        -   Sepal color.—RHS 145A (yellow-green).        -   Sepal size.—⅛ inch long×⅛ inch wide.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Ovary.—Tomentose.        -   Placenta arrangement.—5 locules.        -   Pistil.—Single, non-petaloid.        -   Pistil length.—1¼ to 1½ inches long.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 58A (red-purple).        -   Style color.—RHS 58B (red-purple).        -   Stamen number.—5, non-petaloid.        -   Stamen length.—1 5/16 to 1 9/16 inches.        -   Stamen color.—Filaments: RHS N57A (red-purple). Anthers: RHS            176A (greyed-orange).        -   Pollen color.—RHS 155D (white).        -   Fragrance.—None.

CULTURE

‘MNIOCM’ grows well in a wide range of conditions and tolerates sun toshade. It prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organicmatter and responds well to mulching and medium applications offertilizer. It does best in soil with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5. It ispropagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring through thesummer.

DISEASES/INSECTS

Lace bugs and spider mites can be a problem.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL CULTIVARS

The female, or seed parent of ‘MNIOCM’ is the Gartrell hybrid Azalea‘Cherie’ (syn. V12-4) (unpatented) which has orange-red, double flowersand is a late blooming azalea. ‘Cherie’ is the result of a cross between‘Jimmy Coover’ (unpatented)×‘Glamour’ (unpatented) and the pink bloomingRobin Hill hybrid ‘Lady Louise’ (unpatented).

The male, or pollen, parent is the Gable hybrid ‘Indian Summer’(unpatented) which has yellowish pink flowers and is a fall bloomingazalea. ‘Indian Summer’ is a fall blooming clone of R. kaempferi.

In Table 1 below, the instant plant is shown in comparison with theparental cultivars.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘MNIOCM’ ‘Cherie’ ‘Indian Summer’ Height (Mature)4-6 ft. 3-5 ft. 8-10 ft. Width (Mature) 3-3½ ft. Not available Notavailable Flower Diameter 2-2½ in. 2 in. Not available Flower FormSingle/hose-in- Double Single/hose-in- hose hose/semi-double FlowerColor Red Deep reddish Yellowish pink orange Flowers per 2-3 Notavailable Not available Terminal Bloom Period April; September Notavailable Fall to frost Petal Number 10 Not available Not availableHardy Zone 5b 6 5 Stamen Number 5 Not available 5 Stamen TypeNon-petaloid Petalod Non-petaloid

1. A new variety of Azalea plant named ‘MNIOCM’ as herein shown anddescribed.